The State government will press for Presidential assent to the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Course Bill 2012, which will make one year rural service mandatory for those completing MBBS or postgraduate medical courses, said Health Minister U.T. Khader.

Participating in a meet the press programme here on Saturday, Mr. Khader said the Bill had been sent to the Centre following its approval in both houses of Legislature. The same has been approved by the Union Health Ministry and it was now with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. Once the Bill turns into an Act, every MBBS graduate will have to undergo one year rural service apart from six-month internship. He or she will be paid a stipend of Rs. 26,000 for six months and a salary of Rs. 36,000. If the graduate wants to pursue his Post Graduate course, his or her rural service will be included as part of the study duration.

Mr. Khader said posts for around 350 MBBS graduates and 1,400 postgraduate students were vacant in various government hospitals and primary health centres. The State government has invited MBBS graduates and postgraduate students to work on a contract basis at a pay scale of Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 65,000 a month, respectively. “We are issuing appointment orders quickly,” he said

Folic acid and iron

Mr. Khader said Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad will launch the nationwide programme of distribution of folic and iron supplement tablets to school students in Bangalore on July 17. Every child will be given these supplements once a week to address anaemic problems, he said. The State has got necessary stock from the Centre and the same has been dispatched to all the districts, he added.

Mr. Khader said the State government was in favour of permanent ban on use of endosulfan in the State. Measures are being worked out to provide facilities for permanent care of endosulfan victims, he said. The department has asked for an allocation of Rs. 70 crore for this purpose. Mr. Khader said any NGO could provide facility for scanning of pregnant women in endosulfan-sprayed areas after taking necessary permissions from District authorities.